Electric



R. M. CRAIG. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC ADVERTISING SIGN..

APPLICI'ITION FILED JULY 24, I916.

Patented July 1, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R. M. CRAIG.

' AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC ADVERTISING SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED .lULY 24,1916;

1,308,698, Patehted J uly 1, 1919 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Snow V60:

R. M. CRAIG.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC ADVERTISING SIGN.

"APPLICATION FILED JULY 24.1916

Patented'July 1, 1919.

5 $HEET$SHEET 3.

R. M. CRAlG.

" AUTOMATIC ELECTRlC'ADVERTISING SIGN.-

APPLICATldN mgo JULY 24. 1916.

Patented July 1, 1919.

v 5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

APPLICATION FILED HJLY 24.19l6.

Patented July '1, 1919.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

UNITED s' ATES Parana onion;

RICHARD M. CRAIG, en's; T ANTONIO, TEXAS.

Application filed July 24 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD M. CRAIG, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic ElectricAdvertising-Signs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric advertising signs andhas as one ofits objects to provide a sign of this class which will be entirelyautonmtic in its operation, being controlled through the medium of atraveling display band upon which advertisemcnts may [be printed orotherwise displayed, the construction of the device being such that theband will be automatically reversed in its travel after display of theentire length thereof or after display of only a portion of the length,as may be desired by the merchant.

It is also an aim of the invention to provide a sign of'this .class inwhich the operating mechanism for the traveling band is automaticallycontrolled by the band itself in its travel, the band beingautomatically caused to travel a predetermined distance so as to displayone advertisement and remain stationary a predetermined length of timeand then automatically ad-- vance to display another advertisement whichmay either be the advertisement immediately following the one firstdisplayed or one more or less advancedalong the length of the band. Infact, it is the aim of the invention to place inthe hands of merchantsan advertising sign upon the display band of which may be printed orotherwise displayed any advertisements deemed suitable by the merchantand to so construct the actuating mechanism for the band'that the samewill be caused to automatically display the advertisements in any orderdesired by the merchant so that eachsuccessive advertising space maycontain a separate and distinct advertisement or the advertisements maybe so arranged upon the band that after the display of a mainadvertisement, so-called followaip advertisements may be successivelydisplayed. I l

Another aim of the invention is to pro vide a sign of this class inwhich one ad- Specification of Letters Patent.

, 1916. Serial Kc. 111,014.

AUtroin TIc ELECTRIC anvnnr sme-sren.

Patented July 1, 1919.

vertising band may be substituted for another by the merchant using thesign so that the character of the advertisements displayed may be variedfrom time to time as found desirable.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a sign of this class whichWhile automatic in 'its operation will not be liable to cause firethrough arcing of contacts and in which the motor is in operation onlywhile the display band is being advanced from one position to another,so that a minimum amount of current is consumed in the operation of thesign and the likelihood of damage from tire is further reduced.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a Sign of the class mentionedin which lights of various colors may-be employed for the purpose ofillumination of the sign and may be lighted in any order desired by themerchant.

A further aim of the invention is to pro; vide means whereby the periodof display or, in other words, the eriod of time during which thedisplay liand is stationary. may be increased or decreased, as may bedesired by the merchant.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sign embodying the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof with the casing removed.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof with the casing removed, parts beingshown in section.

illustrating the automatic timing device for controlling the operationof the sign.

F 1g. 9 is a side elevation ofthe structure. shown in F g. 8.

' Fig. 10 is a plan view of a portion 035 one of the display rolls.

Fizz. 11 is a similar View illustrating a modified form of roll.

Fig. 12 is a similar view illustrating a further modified form of roll.1

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of one of the contact members whichcoiiperates with. the

' a further modified form of contact.

Fig. 16 is a semidiagrammatic view illustrating a modified form oftiming device.

Fig. 17 is a view illustrating a further modified form of timing device.

Fig. 18 is a view illustrating another form of timing or circuit closingdevice.

19 is a semi-diagrammatic view illustrating the circuits.

Fig. 520 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of forming thetransparent front of the casing of the sign.

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the circuit device employed when anumberol. difi'erent colored lights are used to illuminate the The signemhodyingthe present invention includes a base 1 upon which themechanism is mounted, and a casing 2 which is disposed upon the base andhouses the mechanisnnthe easing being connected to the base in anysuitable manner permitting of i- A convenient removal when it becomesnecessary to repair the mechanism or to remove a display hand andsubstitute another one therefor. Mounted upon the base one at the endsthereof are upstanding supporting plates 3 and 4. A partition plate 5 isalso mounted upon the 1115-113 and extends in a vertical planebetweenthe side plates 3'and l and serves to divide the interior of thesign easing into front and rear compartments respectively housing thedisplay hand and its rolls and the lights for illuminating the same, andthe mechanism for driving the band. The plate 5 also constitutes areflector for the electric lights within the forward compartment, aswill be presently understoml. The rear compartment has mounted within itat its bottom a two-wall. casing which extends between the sid s 3 andat and which includes a top wall (i and a rear wall 7., these wallsbeing complemental to the base 1 and plate 5 respectively. lhe displayhand which carries the advertising matter is indicated in general by thenui'neral 8 and this band is adapted to be wound upon and unwound fromupper and lower take-up rolls indicated respec tively by the numerals 9and 10. these rolls beingprovided at their ends with trunnions incense11 and 12 respectively minted within suit hle hearings in the sin latesb and 4 '0! the structure. Each 01 t e rolls 3 and 10 is provided withan eye or' other suitable connecting element 13 for the engagementtherewith: of a hook 141 which is carried at each end of the band 8.From the upper roll 9 the display hand 8 passes over an idle guide roll15 and thence downwardly vertically of the front of the casing 2 andbehind a pane of glass which is mounted within the said front and whichwill presently be more specifically described. The hand is then passedbeneath an idle roll 16 and thence wound upon the roll 10. It will beobserved that the roll 15 is located above and forwardly of the roll 9and that the roll 16 is located belowand forwardly of the roll 10 and ina manner'which will he presently explained, the roll 16 serves also as acontact member common to all of a number of contacts between which andthe said roll the hand 8 is caused totravel. Both rolls 9 and 10 aredriven from a drive shaft common to the two rolls and this shaft isindicated bv the numeral 17 and is rotatably and slidahly mounted itsends in sleeve extensions 1% of clutch members it and 20 which are inturn rotatably mounted in bearings 21 tted through the side plates 3 and4 and provided at their outer ends with sprocket gears 22 and 23respectively. A sprocket chain Q-l is trained over the gear 22 and overa similar gear fixed upon the trunnion 11 or" the upper roll 9. Asprocket chain 26 is trained over the sprocket gear 2 and ovef a similargear 27 upon the trunnion 12 ofthc lower roll. It. will now beunderstood that when the gear 2:2 is clutched with the shaft 17 and thesaid shaft is rotated, the disqilay band will he wound upon the upperroll and unwound from the lower roll and that, on the other hand, whenthe gear 23 is clutched for rotation with .the shaft 17. the displayhand will he wound upon the lower roll and thus hy'selectively throwing:one or the other of the gears into clutch with the shaft the directionof travel of the display hand may be reversed. in order that the gears22 and 23 may be clutched with the shaft 17. clutch members 29 and 29are fixed n 3011 the shaft 17 near the ends thereof an are arranged,upon sliding movement of the shaft 17 in one lirection or the other, tocoact with the respective clutch n'iemhers 19 and 20 whereby to clutchthe gears 22 or 23, as the case may he, for rotation with the said shaft17. The numeral 3-0 indicates an electric motor which is mounted uponthe side plate 3 of the structure and the shaft of this motor isindicated 'by the numeral 31 and is provided with a therewith. In orderthat the shaft 17 may be shifted so its to throw one or the other of thegears 22 and 23 into clutch with the shaft 17, a grooved collar 34 isfixed upon the said shaft and engaging this collar is a yoke 35 at theupper end of a lever arm 36 which is"pivotallymounted as at 37 upon thepartit on plate 5. The lower end of the lever arm 36 extends through aslot 38 in 0 the wall 6 and is pivotally connected as at 39 to a core 40which is common to two solenoids 41 and/12 mounted beneath the said wall6. lit will now be understood that when the solenoid 41 is energized,the core will .5 be shifted to the right '11 Fig. 3 of the drawthelower. end of the ever arm 36, designed :0 sideslof the arm 36.

m s thereb so rockin the lever arm 36 h y g as to shift the clutchmember 29 into clutchnviththe member 20 when upon rotation of the shaft17 through the m tel 30 the lower 0 roll will be rotated to tad: up thedisplay band, the said band at such time traveling downwardly. On theother hand, when the solenoid 42 is energized the lever arm will b sorocked as to shift the clutch member 5 28 into clutch with the member 19and upon rotation of the shaft l'Z the upper roll will be rotatedwhereby to cause the display band to travel in an upward direction. Fora purpose to be presently explained, the lever 0 arm 36 carries a doubleended contact blade ,43 and a similar blade 14. The ends of the blade 43are, inthe swinging. movement of to be brou ht into conturtwwith fixedcon- 5 tacts 45 an 46 mounted upon the wall (3 and located at oppositesides of the said arm. In like manner the epds of the blade i i are-designed'to coast with fixed contacts 1-? and {18 also. mounted uponthe wall 6 at cp csite The purpose of the contacts above referred towill be presently fully set forth in connection with the descriptionofoperation o the sign.

The stopping and starting mechanism in- 5 eludes two solenoids, oneindicated by the numeral 49 and the other by the numeral 50, thesesolenoids hav' 1}; cores 51 and 52 respectively and the said solenoidsbein mounted Within the casin comprised by the o walls 6 and andhavingtheir cores extending up through the wall 6 in the manner clearly shownin Fig. 3 of the drawings. The cores 51 and 52 at their upper ends areas at 56 on a bracket 57 in turn mounted upon the wall 6. An arm 58extends upwardly from the intermediate portion 60 of the contact memberabove the pivot 56 57 and upon the said wall 6 there are m0unted spacedcontacts 60 and (31 and at the other side of the said bracket there aremounted spaced contacts 62 and 63 and by reference to Fig. 3 of thedrawings it will be understood that when the solenoid 49 is energizedthe contact member will be so rocked that its arm 5i will swingdownwardly and bridge the contacts 452 and 63 and the contact memberwill be held in this position, inasmuch as the spring 59 is then pastcenter until the solenoid is energized, whereupon the contact memberwill be-so rocked that its arm will swing downwardly thereby bridgingthe contact members and (S1, and, of course, the said contact memberwill be held in this latter position by the spring 59 in the mannerabove stated. The purpose of the contacts 00 and (31 and the contacts(32 and 63 will presently be fully explained.

he circuit opening and closing mechanism above described coacts with anautomatictiming mechanism shown clearly in Figs. 8 and 5) of thedrawings. The timing mechanism is mounted within a casing 64 andincludes a main gear wheel (55 which meshes with a pinion 66 fixed upona shaft 67. Also fixed upon this shaft is a gear (58 which meshe with apinion 69 fixed upon a shaft 70, this shaft carrying an escapement wheel71 which forms one element or" an ordinary escapement indicated ingeneral by the numeral 72. A lever arm 73 is pivotal-iv mounted at oneend as at H upon the same shaft or spindle as the gear and this armcarries a pawl T?) which is yicldably held by means of a. spring 76, incoactive engagement with the teeth of the gear (15 in the manner clearlyshown in. .Fig. 8 of the drawings. A spring 77 is coiled one or moretimes as at '28 about the spindle 7% and atone end is connected as at 79to the lever arm 73 and at its other end is connected to a fixed portionof the casing 6% as indicated at 80. It will now be apparent that whenthe lever arm '78 is swung downwardly, the spring 77 will be placedunder tension and when the arm released the spring will tend to swin thesame upwardly but this movement wil be gradual due to the escapementprovided 1n conunction with the gearing. Downward movement of the leverarm 73 is caused by downward swinging of the contact arm 54 through theenergization of the solenoid 49, the said arm being provided with atermi nal extension 81 which projects through a slot in one wall of thecasing 64 and is designed to engage against a block of insulation 82upon the upper edge of the lever arm 73. In order that theupward movement of the arm 73 may be retarded and in order, therefore, that theperiod of time remosses 'quired for the arm to return, from lowered toraised position may bevaried, means is provided which will now bedescribed. One Wall of the casing 64 is formed with a slot 83 throughwhich the arm 73 extends in the manner clearly shown iii-Figs. 8 and 9of the drawings and disposed against the outer face of the said Wall ofthe casing is a strip 84 provided with a slot 85 which extendslongitudinally thereof and which receives a set screw 86 which may heloosened to permit of vertical adjustment of the said strip 8 The stripis provided at one lateral edge with a finger 87 which extends acrossthe slot 83 and in the path of upward swingin movement of the lever arm73 and at its 0t ier lateral edge the strip 84 is provided with apointer 88. A series of scale marks 89 is provided upon the said outerface of the said wall of the casing (34 and these scale marks havesuitable designating numerals 90 .which preferably indicate in secondsthe length of time it will require the arm 73 to return from itslowermost position to position in contact with the finger 87, the properscale mark to indicate the length of this period of time being indicatedby the pointer 88 in the adjustment of the strip 84. The arm 73 isdesigned to make electrical contact with the in er 87 in a manner andfor apurpose to he presently described and in order that the timingdevice may be rendered inactive whenever desired, a sleeve 91 isslidahly mounted upon the lever arm 7 3 and While it normally occupicssubstantially the position shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, it may beslid in Wardly so that when the arm 73 swings upwardly through theaction of the spring 77, the sleeve 91 will contact the linger 87 andthe circuit in which the said linger and arm are located will not beclosed. lso, for a purpose to he presently explained. ".lhe arm 7 3 isprovided at its outer end with a carbon contact button 92.

In that form of the invention shown in Fi s. 1 to a inclusive the disnew band 8 is sirable to increase the area of the portion of the band tohedisplaycd at any one time, uprights 93 are secured to the side plates3 and 4 at the trout thereof and extend a greater or less distance abovethe upper edges of the said plates and mounted beveen the upper ends oithe uprights 93 is a guide roll 94 over which the band is passedinstezul of over the guide roll 15, the band heiu further passed overaroll 95 mounted lietween the ends of arms 96 which extendrearwardly fromthe uprights 93. Shorter arms 97 entcnd rearwardly from the uprights 93and carry electric light bulbs 98 whereby the displa hand mayilluminated.

In the preferred form of the inventioi'i a electric light bulb 99 isiii-minted upon side plate 3 and a similar bulb is mounted upon the sideplate 1} and these hnihs 100 shall he lighted, which bulb is mounted 1;

u )011 the partition plate and is preferably ov colored glass. Themanner in which the bulbs are arranged in the electric circuit and themeans provided for automatically cutting" the hulbs into and out ofcircuit will be fully set forth in the description of operation of thesign to he pres j {g ven In that form of the invention shown Figs. 1 to5 inc usive a plurality of Contac members are arranged in juxtapositionthe roll 16 and in this said form of the invention these contact membersare in the nature of idle rolls indicated b the numerals 101, 102,103and 104. The display hand in this form of the invention is provided atsuitable intervals with contacts which may be in the nature of metalliceye-- lots or rivets fastened through the hand at proper points asindicated at 1.05 in Fig. 12

of the drawings and these contacts are so arranged as to pass hetweenther n 16 and the roll 101 and adjacent one end of the hand a contact 108is secured thereto is so positioned as to pass between the l. 16 androll 102.

In a like manner the hand is provided near its other end with a co tact107 positioned to )ass between the 16 and the contact 1'01 103 and Withother contact 158 designed to pass L the roll 16 and the contact roll10%.

he understood, of course, that when one or another-of the contactscarried by the hand passes between the roll 16 and the respective 'oue ol the contact rolls, a circuit is closed controlling the further inctement of the hand. For example, when one of the concontacts 105 passesbetween the rolls 16 101,11 circuit will he closed storming the travelof the hand and lighting the hulhs After the hand has traveled its fulllength or such portion of its length a contact 106 will pass hetiveenthe rolls i6 and 102.. a circuit Willbe closed shifting; the shaft 1? soas to provide for reverse movement, of the hand and in like manner whenthe h nd has traveled such distance that the other ccntact'107' passesbetween the rolls 1% and the shaft 17 so as to provide for travel of theband in a reverse direction. Also, when the contacts 108 pass betweenthe rolls 16 and 104, a circuit will be closed stopping the travel ofthe band and illuminating the sign through the medium of the bulbs 99'.The rolls 101, 102, 103, and 101 may be supported in any desired mannerand in that form of'the invention shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings, therolls are each supported between the ends of-arms 109 which arepivotally mounted as=at f110 upon the base ,1. A spring 111 isassemlrledwith each pivot 110 and bears at one endagainst the base 1 inthe manner shown inFig. 1,3 and at its other end bears downwardly uponthe rear end of one or both of the arms 109, whereby to yicldably holdthe roll supported,:between these arms in contact with the roll 16. Inthis term of the invention the metallic con tacrs carried by the displayband, passfbesw completing the sew tween the metallic rolls, eralcircuits but'if it should be found desirable not to have these metalliccontacts serve this purpose a circuit closing device such as shown inFig. 1 1 of employed. In this form of the rolls 101, 102.103, and 101are invention the mounted between the forward ends of arms 112 whicharms are pirotally mounted as at 113 upon lhc base 1 and are held bymeans of a spring 1H so that each respective 'roll will bear yieldablyagainst the roll 16 or more specifically a grainst the band as it passesbetween these rolls. At their rear ends the arms 112 are provided withcontacts 115 designed to coi'iperate' with a fixed contact 116 which maybe adjusted with relation to the contact 1153 through the medium of aset screw 117. N ow, when the metallic eyelets or rivets upon the bandpass between the roll 16 and one or another of the rolls Which aresupported by the arms 112, the respective arms will be. swung downwardlyat then forward ends and upwardly at their rear ends, thereby bringingthe contact 115 into engagement with the contact 116 tive circuit.

\Vhile it is preferable that a timing device such as heretoforedescribed and shown in Figs. 8 and 9, be e iployed, if desired, a timingdevice of the c iaracter SilOWH ln Fig. 16 may be employed in lieuthereor. In this figure the numeral 118 indicates a base of insulatingrmaterial upon which is mounted an arched wire or rod 119 of some metalhaving a high -oetiicient of expansion and contraction and suitablywound about this member is a conductor wire 120, which, when currentpassed therethrough, serves to i'at tl*= arched wire 119 and cause thesame to expand. A contact 121 is adjustably mounted above the archedwire 119 and when the said i. he 119 expands it will engage the said theshaft 122,

the drawings may be and closing the respeccontact 121 and a circuit willbe closed breaking the circuit in which the wire 120 is located. i Ifdesired, a timing device such as shown 111 Fig. 17 of the drawings maybe employed and in this figure the numeral 122 indicates a rotar "shaftand 123 indicates a sliding contact member carried having connected toit the arms 121 of a centri ugal governor, the balls of which areindicated by the numeral 125.. The numeral 120 indicates a fixed contactwhich is in the same circuit with the contact 123 and when i which shaftis either the motor shaft itself or a shaft driven therefrom, has gainedsuch speed that the centrifugal governor device will slide the contactpin 123 upwardly and into contact with the contact 126, the circuit inwhich these contacts are located will be closed, thereby stopping thetravel of the display band and clos- 1n the circuit through the lightbulbs 99. Y f desired, instead of employing rolls 101,

102, 103 and 101, circuit closing means such as shown in Fig. 15 of thedrawings may be employed. In this figure the numeral'12T indicates aroll which is the equivalent of the roll 16 heretofore described and thenumeral 128 indicates the display band which, at suitable intervals, isprovided with slots 0r openings 129 which travel in'the path of contactrolls 130 which are four in number and correspond to the rolls 101, 102,103 and 10 1, these contact rolls 130 being mounted at the outer ends ofarms 131 which are suitably connected in the respective circuits whichcontrol the movement of the band.

In Fig. 18 of the drawin s there is illustrated a still further modi edform of circuit closing device. The structure shown in is figure isespecially designed for use when the sign is to be placed within astreet railway car and in the figure the'numeral 132 indicates thetrolley Wire and 133 a button of insulation, a number of these buttonsbeing employed and placed at suitable intervals along the wire 132. Thetrolley pole is indicated by the numeral fron'i this pole is a conductorwire 135 in which suitable resistance is interposed as at 136, the wireleading to an electromagnet 137 and the other wire for this magnet,indicated at 138 being led to ground. he armature for the magnet isindicated by -the numeral 139 and this armature serves also as a contactmember and c-oiiperates with a fixed contact indicated by the numeral140, the armature and contact 110 same circuit as in all the previously.described forms of circuit closing devices. It will now be understoodthat normally the magnet 137 is ener, ;ized and the armature 139 isattracted thereto and held out of engagement with the contact 14-0.-However,

134 and leadingy the shaft and being in the I when thctrolley wheelposses one ot the buttons 133, the circuit is momentarily cttachin baseportion 1 13 designed to. he.

adjustab y disposed upon at supporting arm or ledge M l secured to thecasin 64 and extendln outwardly therefrom, the base portion being heldin adjustment by means of a set screw 145 fitted through a slot 14.6 inthe said'portion and into the arm oiqlegge 14.4. Mounted upon the plate1 12 end i sulctcd from each other, are contact strips-L17, 141%,

149, 150 and 151, which are in circuit respectively with red, blue,green, amber and white light bulbs. The strips are, as stated, suitablyinsulated from each other and yet are arranged relatively close togetherand in an orcuate series, the strips being gradw ally decreased in widthfrom their outer to their inner ends so that when the plate 142 is movedoutwardly upon the supporting arm or ledge/1 14, the carbon contactbutton 92 upon the lever arm.73 will pass across the faces of the stripsnearer to their smaller ends than to their larger ends and less timewill. be consumed in the return of the lever to its normal position.Upon return of the lever .to its normal position it is designed toengage a, contact strip 152 at the upper edge of the plate 14.2, thisstrip corresponding to the contact finger 87. heretofore described. itwill now be understood that when the le' ver has been swung downwardlyto its limit of movement in this direction, the carbon contact button 92will be in contact with the strip 147, and the sign will be illuminatedby a red light. As the lever arm 73 swings upwardly in its returnmovement, the button will from the strip 147 to the strip 148 and,therefore, the blue light will be inon'ienterily blended with the redlight and next the blue light alone will be lighted, this blending anddisplay of colors being continued until the button has passed over allof the said strips. I p

The transparent front of the casing may be in the nature of a pane ofclear glass or if there is to be a total lack of illuu'linatil'm withinthe casingwhilc the display band is being:- nioved. a front of the kindshown in Fig. 20 of the drawings may be employed. In this figure thenumerals 153 and 154 indicate two panes of glass secured together in anysuitable manner face to face and applied incense to the face of one paneis an extremely thin coat- 155 of silver z-which'covcrs the entire fcccof the pane except portions purposely not covered whereby to formletters in the nature of advertising matter as indicated at 156. Thetransparent front thus produced is to all appearances transparent andwhen. the'interior of the casing is illuminated, the display band may bereadily viewed through the said front. However, when the bond istrzweiing and the electric bulbs within the casing are not lighted, thedcrlcinterior of the casing will serve to convert the front into a.mirror except where the letters or other characters 156 occur. m Byrcference'now to Figiil of the drawings, the numeral 15! indicates oneof the line wires and the mnnerel 158, the other of these wires,supplying current from enysuitoble source of electricity to the weremechenisms of the sign. The wire-"1. 58 is connected electrically to thehi cchetlll which supports the rocking contest mom or embodying thecontact arms 54 and 55. This wire is also connected electrcall with thearm 36. A branch wire 159 lea s from the 1 Wire 158 and is connected toone terminal of till tact 61. A wire 161 leads from the contact 62 toone terminal of the solenoid 50 and a wire 162 leads from the otherterminal of the said solenoid to the contact 4- .1 carried by the leverarm' ti. A wire 163 leads from the contact 63 to the motor 30, endanother wire 164 leads from this-motor to the line wire 157. As shown inFig. 19, a switch'is interposed in the wire 159 and this switchcorresponds to any one of the several t ming devices heretoforedescribed. A. wire 165 is connected to the contact 60 and to the linelights 99 are inter msed. The wire 157 leads to and connects eectrically with the roll 16 and any suitable resistance 166 isinterposed in the said wire. A. wire 167 is connected to ,the contact101 and to the contact 47, and a. wire 168 is connected to the contact104 and to the contact 48. A wire 169 is connected to the contact 102and to one terminal of the solenoid 42, end a wire 170 is connected tothe other terminal of this solenoid and to the contact -15. A Wire 17lis connected to one terminal of the solenoid 4-1 and to the conlliliwire 157 and it is in this wire that the White tact 46, and a wire 172is connectcd'to the closed through the wire 157,

wire 167, contacts l7 and 41. solenoid 50, contact arm 51,

and line wire 158. Thus the solenoid will be arm will bridge -retnrnedto normal position and, when this lever arm comes in c ntact. with thefinger 87, a circuit is closed equivalent to closing of the switch whichis interposed in the wire 159. Current then flows to wire 158, wire15.), solenoid 49 and out to line, through contacts 01 and 00 and wire165 to line 157. The solenoid l9 being momentarily energized, thecontact arm 55 is swung upwardly out of position bridging the 61 and thearm 54: in swinging downwardly will bridge contacts 62 and 63. Currentwill then flow from wire 158 through contact arm 54 and contact 63 towire 163 and to motor 30 and thence out through line 164 to line 157.The lamp being in shunt with the motor 30, the lamp will be lightedwhile the motor is running or, in other words, while the band istraveling. Vlhen the band has traveled such distance as to bring thecontact 100 between the roll 10 and roll 102, the circuit will be closedthrough line 157, contact rolls 16 and 102, wire 169, solenoid 42, wire170, contacts45 and 43, and thence out through wire 158. This will,ofcourse, result in energization' of the solenoid 42 and as aconsequence the lever arm 36 will he swung over so as to provide forreverse travel of the band and the said band will then travel downwardlyuntil the first one of the contacts 108 passes between the roll 16 andcontact roll. 104, whereupon the circuit will be closed from wire 157through contact rolls 16 and 104 to Wire through contacts 48 andsolenoid 50 and contact arm 54 to line 158. The solenoid 50 being inthis manner energized, the' circuit. will again be closed through thewhite light 99 and current will be cut oil from the motor, therebyresulting in stopping of the band. After the band has traveled suchdistance as to bring the contact 107 between the roll 16 and contactroll 103. the circuit will be closed so as to encrgizc the solenoid41'and the direction of travel of the band will again be reversed.

lly referring now to 10 of the drawings, it will be observed that at thefirst part of the band or, in other Words, at one encl of the band, theband is provided With- 168, thence contacts 60 and- 44 and through ineach of the-sign spaces with one of the contacts 105 and that fartheralong and, in fact, throughout the remainder of the contacts 105 occuronly in. every other sign space as also the contacts 108, so that thefirst several sign spaces will be successively or consecutivelydisplayed, whereupon in the further travel of the band every other signspace will be skipped in the upward travel. of the band and the signspaces displayed in the up travel of the band will he ski pped in thedown travel of the band. If desired, a single band may be made tocontain a number of different advertisements relating to the same lineof goods or a single band may contain a number of groups ofadvertisements, the advertisementsof each group relating to a certainclass of merchandise. Thus a single band may contain cigaradvertisements, drug advertisements, soap advertiscancnts, etc., asshown in Fig. 11 of the drawings, and by prowiding the contacts 106 and10% at the ends of each group of advertisements. that one particulargroup only will be automaically displayed, the direction of travel ofthe band being automatically reversed. Q

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a sign electrieznotor, a drive shaft driven by the said motor,take-up rolls each. having operas tive gear connection with the saidshaft, a display band-wound at its ends upon the rolls, timing mechanismarranged to close I the circuit through the motor at predeterminedintervals of time, means controlled through the travel of the band forbreaking the motor circuit, gears carried bv the said shaft and arrangedto be selectively clutched with the shaftand having 0 erative gearconnection with the rolls, and ineans actu ated also through thc.travolof the band to actuate the clutch dev ces whereby'to provide forautomatic of travel of the band.

In a, sign'of the class described, take-up rolls, a display band woundat its ends upon the said rolls, means for selectively rotating the rls, means controlled through the travel of the band for rendering therotating moans inactive. and a, timing device for rendering the saidrotating means active at predetermined intervals of time.

3. In a sign of the class described. take-up rolls, a display band woundat its ends upon the said rolls, means for selectively rotating therolls, means controlled through the travel of the band for rendering therotating means inactive. a' tuning device for rendering the saidrotating means active at' redetermlned intervals of time, and an eectric lighting circuit and means for closing the of the classdescribed, an.

reversal of the direct-ion length of the band, the

said circuit when the roll rotating means-is inactive. i I

In a sign of the class described, take-up rolls, a display band wound atits ends upon intervals of time, electric light bulbs of dil :lerentcolors for illuminating said display hand, an electric circuit in whichsaid bulbs are arranged, means for closing the circuit through one bulbduring the period of time the roll rotating means is inactive and meansfor closing the circuit through another bulb during the period of timethe roll rotating means is active.

In a sign of the class described, take-up rolls, a display band woundthereon, a light circuit, an electric motor for driving the said rolls,an electric circuit havin solenoids interposed therein, the said motoreing also in. said circuit, spaced sets of contacts, an oscillatoryContact arm in said circuit and operatively connected with the cores ofthe said solenoids and arranged upon energize.- tioii of one of thesolenoids to be moved to position bridging the-contacts of one set andupon energiv'ation of the other solenoid to be moved to positionbridging the contacts oi the other set, a circuit closing device in cir-.cuit with the first mentioned solenoid and arranged to close thecircuit through the said solenoid at predetermined intervals, the cointact member when bridging the contacts of the first mentioned set beingarranged to close the circuit through the motor, and means controlledbythe travel of the band for closing the circuit through the othersolenoid predetermined intervals whereby to energize the same and movethe contact member to position breaking the circuit through the motorand closing the light oil" cu it.

6. in a sign of the class described, takeup rolls, a display hand Woundthereon, alight circuit, an electric motor E (lI'lV1Ilg the said rolls,an electric circuit having solenoids interposed therein, the said motorheingr also in said circuit, spaced setsJs-n contacts, an oscillatorycontact arm in said circuit and operatively connected with the cores ofthe said solenoids and arranged upon energization of one of thesolenoids to be moved to position bridging the contacts of one set andupon energization of the other solenoid to be moved to position bridgingthe contacts of the other set, a circuit closing device in circuit withthe first mentioned solenoid and arranged to close the circuit throughthe said solenoid at predetermined intervals, the contact member whenbridging the contacts of the first mentioned set being arranged to closethe circuit through the motor, means controlled by the travel of thehand for closing the circuit through the other solhnoid-at predeterminedintervals whereby to energize the same and move the contact member toposition breaking thecircuit through the motor and closing the lightcircuit, electrically operated means for reversing the direction oftravel of the said band, and means controlled by the travel of the bandfor closing't'he circuits through the said reversing means,

7. A timing devicei'for an electric sign including a contact arm in anelectric-4:11- cuit, an adjustable contact member in the path ofmovement of the arm, means for moving the arm out of contact with thesaid member, means for returning the contact arm to positionin contactwith the said 'member Within a predetermined period of time, and acircuit to be closed by the said arm and member.

8. In an automatically controlled electric sign of the class described,a display band, selectively arranged protuberances thereon, an electriccircuit having means arranged therein upon closing of said circuit tocontrol the movement of the band, a pivoted arm, a roller about whichthe band is arranged to travel, means carried by the arm resting againstthe band in the path of said protuberances,

and normally spaced contacts in said circuit and one relatively fixedand the other carried by the said arm Whereby upon passage of one of theprotuberances between the roller and the said member upon the arm thecontacts will be brought into mutual engagement for closing saidcircuit.

5). ln an electric sign oi": the class described, take-up rolls, adisplay band wound thereon, 'a motor for driving said rolls, timingmechanism for closing the circuit through the motor at predeterminedintervals, electrically operated means for breakthe circuit through themotor when the uand is traveling in one direction, electrically operatedmeans for breaking the circuit through the motor when the band istraveling in another direction, electrically 0perated means forreversing the direction of travel of the band when the band has connleted its travel in either direction, series of electric contacts inelectric. circuit with said means and normally spaced, and means carriedby the band selectively arranged to permit of coaction of the contactsof the series. I

10. In an electric sign of the class described, take-up rolls, a displayband wound thereon, a motor for driving said rolls, timing' mechanismfor closing the circuit through the motor at predetermined intervals,electrically operated means for breale ing the circuit -thrbug'li themotor when the will band "is traveling in one direction,' electricarriedby the band'selectively arranged to 10 cally' operated means forbreaking the cirpermit of jcoaction of the contacts of thesecuitjthrou'ghjthe; motor when the 'band is ries, an electric lightingcircuit inolndin travelin in .another direction, electrically anelectriclamp for illuminating vthe sai o erat'egmeans for reversing thedirection band, and means for closing the lighting 0 travel of thebendwhen the band has circuit when either of the two first-men- 15 completedits travel in either direction, se tioned means is active. riee 'goffelectrio contacts in electric circuit In testimony whereof I aflix Insignature. withsaid means-sind nor nelly spaced, me ns V RICHARD CRAI [18.]

